My Brother's Keeper Announces 2026 Summer Reading List to Boost Literacy Among Newark Students & Residents

My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Newark, an initiative of Newark Opportunity Youth Network (NOYN) built on the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, announced today the MBK Newark 2026 Summer Reading List featuring 30 books for early childhood to adult readers. The annual list encourages families to read together to improve literacy skills for students and adults both over the summer.

“Improving literacy among our students, including Black and Brown boys of color is a leading priority for MBK Newark and the city at-large. Community involvement is a key factor in the effort’s success,” said Mark Comesañas, executive director of My Brother’s Keeper Newark. “Each year, we curate a list of books reflective of diverse backgrounds and experiences for children and families to see both themselves and different perspectives. We look forward to working with partner organizations to distribute the books, celebrate Newark authors, and encourage all residents to read this summer.”

MBK Newark focuses on six key life milestones to improve outcomes for young men of color. The MBK 2026 Summer Reading List highlights Milestone 2, Reading at Grade level by Third Grade, when reading to learn, not just learning to read, becomes essential for the foundation of a student’s academic success.

The list serves to engage Newark residents of all ages to contribute to investments by the City of Newark and Newark Public Schools, including Mayor Ras Baraka’s 10-point Youth Literacy Plan and the Newark Public Schools 2026 Summer Reading List, to bring students’ reading skills above grade level. One local collaborator includes Reading Partners, which is currently recruiting local tutors in partnership with GreenLight Fund Greater Newark, to improve literacy outcomes for 4,500 students.

Books on the list include titles written and illustrated by Newark authors, including West Ward Councilman Dupré L. Kelly and Khairi Williams (“You Can Do It All”); David D., Aiyana Heart, and Jada Rae Ruiz (“Meet the Tayberries”); and Daniela Palacios and Patricia Patalinjug (“El Nuevo País y la Nueva Amiga de Sara/Sara’s New Country and New Friend”).

“A movement is not a movement unless it is moving progressively forward and tomorrow cannot be built with stagnant ideas.” said authors of “You Can Do It All” West Ward Councilman Dupré L. Kelly and Khairi Williams. “Momentum begins with literacy, understanding, and self-belief. Our book “You Can Do It All” being added to the MBK 2026 Summer Reading List aligns with the incredible mission of My Brother’s Keeper Newark, making sure our children do not just dream about success, but actively march toward it .”

MBK Newark plans to distribute 500 copies of the books at local events throughout the summer, including Black Boy Joy Festival on August 1 at Military Park, Reading Under the Stars on August 5 at Ivy Hill Park, and others.

The MBK Newark 2026 Summer Reading List

Ages 0-3

“You Can Do It All” by Khairi Williams & Dupré L. Kelly (Newark Author)

“Whose Toes are Those?” by Jabari Asim; illustrated by LeUyen Pham

“Cerca/Close” by Juan Felipe Herrera; illustrated by Blanca Gómez

“At the Park” by Sally Anne Garland

“I Believe I Can” by Grace Byers; illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo

Ages 4-6

“Meet the Tayberries” by David D. Ruiz & Aiyana Heart Ruiz; illustrated by Jada Rae Ruiz
(Newark Author)

“El Nuevo País y la Nueva Amiga de Sara/Sara’s New Country and New
Friend” by Daniela Palacios; illustrated by Patricia Patalinjug (Newark Author)

“Hey Young Prince!: Discover God's Greatness Within You” by Felicia Campbell; illustrated Zuri Gray

“Little Black Boy: Oh, the Things You Will Do!” by Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Larry C. Fields III

“Freedom Soup” by Tami Charles

Ages 7-9

“The Rhythm of Time” by Questlove and S.A. Cosby

“The Library in the Woods” by Calvin Alexander Ramsey; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

“Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key” by Tracy Occomy Crowder

“Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos” by Nathalie Alonso; illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez

“A Fist for Joe Louis and Me” by Trinka Hakes Noble

Ages 10-13

“Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!” by Marley Dias

“Kwame Crashes the Underworld ” by Craig Kofi Farmer

“The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze” by Derrick Barnes

“Black Star” by Jason Reynolds by Kwame Alexander

“Tight” by Torrey Maldonado

Ages 14-17

“Show and Prove” by Sofia Quintero

“Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds

“The Contender” by Robert Lipsyte

“Money Out Loud: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us” by Berna Anat

“We Are Not From Here” by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Ages 18+

“Grocery Shopping with My Mother” by Kevin Powell

“Every Day We Get More Illegal” by Juan Felipe Herrera

“The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

“Toni Morrison: The Princeton Lectures” by Toni Morrison

“America, U.S.A. How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries” by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

To view the full MBK Newark 2026 Summer Reading List, including book synopses, MBK Summer Reading List — My Brothers Keeper Newark.

URBAN LEAGUE OF ESSEX COUNTY CELEBRATES COMMUNITY SERVICE OF 5 HONOREES AT ANNUAL R.E.D. GALA OCTOBER 16

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we do not always see or recognize people or organizations that are working steadfastly behind the scenes to improve the community. These heroes make it their mission or devote their time to stimulate social justice and economic empowerment to traditionally underserved populations.

The Urban League of Essex County, a major nonprofit organization, invites the public to celebrate five distinguished honorees whose contributions have mirrored the organization’s mission to help African Americans and disadvantaged residents achieve economic and social advancement.

The occasion is the Urban League’s annual R.E.D. (Racial Equity Diversity) Gala to be held at Nanina’s In the Park, in Belleville, NJ on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 6:00 PM. This year’s theme is “Our Children’s Literacy Crisis – The Urgency of Now.”

The honorees include Mosaic – NJ Advance Media, PNC – Grow Up Great, Dr. Charles Payne of Rutgers University, Source of Knowledge Bookstore in Newark, and former NJ Supreme Court Justice Hon. Gary S. Stein. The event is also an opportunity to recognize two major sponsors, Wells Fargo and PSE&G. Urban Leage President & CEO Vivian Cox Fraser, said, “We are pleased to have such outstanding honorees and sponsors as we bring them and the community together to celebrate them and to raise funds to continue our vital work.”

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The dinner and awards ceremony is the Urban League’s most important fundraiser of the year to support its array of programs and services including individual counseling, groups seminars, social service assistance, and community outreach that results in home ownership, housing assistance, new entrepreneurship, upskilling and employment, and financial literacy.

A recent study showed that more than 80 percent of third graders in Newark district schools cannot read on grade level. A major Urban League initiative for 2024-2025 is to increase its portfolio of services through technology to improve the literacy and reading proficiency of the youth of Newark and the surrounding Essex County.

PSEG is an ongoing sponsor and the President of PSEG Foundation and Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Calvin Ledford Jr., remarked “PSEG's vision is powering a future where people use less energy, and it's cleaner, safer and delivered more reliably than ever. Our public service efforts help empower our customers, our communities, our workforce and other stakeholders. As a long-time partner of the Urban League of Essex County (ULEC), we’re proud to support ULEC's efforts to combat the literacy crisis and aid in helping underserved residents achieve social and economic advancement.”

Wells Fargo is a prior honoree and an ongoing sponsor. “Wells Fargo is proud of its longstanding support of The Urban League of Essex County,” said Tomas Porturas, Senior Community Impact & Sustainability Specialist. “Through their commitment to literacy and community service, ULEC is making a meaningful difference in the lives of children in underserved communities. Wells Fargo is proud to join ULEC’s efforts to ensure that every child across Essex County has access to a quality education and reading resources.”

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The Urban League has a tradition of bestowing honors in the name of the National Urban League’s first executive director, Whitney M. Young, Jr., and in the name of the founder of the Essex County affiliate, William M. Ashby. Each year, it has these awards and additional awards for people and organizations deserving special recognition:

Community Impact Award Honoree: MOSAIC - NJ ADVANCE MEDIA
Mosaic is an innovative news platform that celebrates the mosaic represented by the richness of New Jersey’s diverse cultures.

Corporate Citizen Award Honoree: PNC GROW UP GREAT - PNC BANK
For 20 years, PNC Grow Up Great® has helped children from birth to age 5 discover their love of learning through volunteerism by its employees.

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award Honoree: DR. CHARLES M. PAYNE
Dr. Payne, a Professor at Rutgers University-Newark, directs the Joseph Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Research with a focus on urban education and social inequality.

William M. Ashby Award Honoree: SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE BOOKSTORE
Serving the Newark community since 1992, Source of Knowledge is not only a bookstore, but a community center that specializes in Black art, Black literature and culture as well.

Diversity Champion Award Honoree: HON. GARY S. STEIN
The Honorable Gary S. Stein served on the New Jersey State Supreme Court for more than 17 years and subsequently filed a major public interest lawsuit challenging New Jersey's extreme racial and socioeconomic segregation of its public schools as unconstitutional.

For more information on tickets, sponsorships, and donations, contact Ms. Patricia Sermon, Chief Operating Officer, Urban League of Essex County, Newark, NJ, patsermon@ulec.org, www.ulec.org, 973-624-9535 x294.